How has al Qaeda changed in the last decade - and what does that tell the world's counter-terrorism experts about what it will look like ten years from now?

As Congress prepares to hold a joint House and Senate Intelligence Hearing on the threat Tuesday, U.S. counter-terrorism officials tell CNN that al Qaeda today would find it very difficult to repeat an attack on the scale of 9/11 - but it has become a more diffuse and complex organization. The very name has become a label and an inspiration for terror cells on three continents. Even if, as U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta asserts, Osama bin Laden's organization is mortally wounded, tracking and countering Islamist terrorism will continue to consume billions of dollars and some of the best minds in western intelligence for years to come.

And that's precisely the goal of al Qaeda new generation of leaders - in their 30s and 40s. They are focused less on the spectacular - hijackings and "dirty" nuclear bombs - and more on a war of attrition. And they see opportunities for establishing new bridgeheads as the Arab revolts undermine authoritarian rulers and their ruthless intelligence services.

Ten years ago al Qaeda was a bureaucratic organization headquartered in Taliban-run Afghanistan which had its own personnel and IT departments.

It comprised mainly Arab fighters and had loose ties to other jihadist outfits - in Chechnya and south-east Asia for example. Today groups proclaiming their affiliation to al Qaeda find a home in ungoverned spaces in Somalia, Yemen, the Russian Causcasus and the Sahara. There are even al Qaeda cells in Egypt's Sinai desert, according to Egyptian military intelligence.

Under pressure, al Qaeda "central" - the remnants of bin Laden's group - has developed links with militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban, the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba - all of which are well entrenched in Pakistan.

The battle against al Qaeda in the next ten years will be on a much broader canvas.

The Rise of the Affiliates

In the last two years, three groups - al Qaeda in Pakistan, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsular (AQAP) based in Yemen, and the Pakistani Taliban - have tried to carry out attacks in the United States, while Europe has been threatened by an even wider constellation of jihadist groups. Al Shabaab staged its first attack beyond Somalia with a double bombing in Kampala, Uganda in 2010.

"The affiliates are playing a greater role today - a more menacing role today - than in quite some time," U.S. State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Daniel Benjamin told a recent conference of the New America Foundation. "While the AQ core has weakened operationally, the affiliates have become stronger and consequently the broader AQ threat has become more geographically and ethnically diversified."

Better intelligence and a relentless campaign of drone attacks has weakened al Qaeda central and cut off its sources of funding. In one video that emerged from his compound in Abbottabad, Osama bin Laden cut a lonely, isolated figure - hunched over a TV screen. It seemed like a metaphor for his organization. While jihadists still travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan for training and the opportunity to take part in attacks on western forces, a growing number are heading to Yemen and Somalia - just as they headed to Iraq at the height of the insurgency there.

U.S counter-terrorism officials already see AQAP in Yemen as the most immediate threat to the United States. Under the guidance of American cleric Anwar al Awlaki, the group attempted to blow up a plane over Detroit on Christmas Day 2009 and in October 2010 dispatched two printer bomb packages from Yemen's capital Sanaa that were timed to explode over the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.

The group has taken advantage of political turmoil in Yemen to expand its safe haven in the south. "Our highest priority is the United States. Anything there, even on a smaller scale compared to what we may do in the United Kingdom, would be our choice, " Anwar al Awlaki told an operative based in the UK in an encrypted internet communication in 2010.

While Osama bin Laden thought in terms of weapons of mass destruction and mass casualties, Awlaki's template recognizes that western intelligence has vastly improved its ability to detect such ambitious plots. Instead, his group looks for vulnerable niches: in air cargo, or using explosives such as PETN that are difficult to detect. It is less about the destruction such attacks might cause and more about the expense in defending against them, and the psychological effect should they succeed. It is less about establishing bin Laden's dream of a global Caliphate and more about disrupting western economies.

Above all, it's about attacks by individuals, some of them directed and mentored in the mountains of Yemen, others self-radicalized by the slick online propaganda being produced by AQAP. And it seems this approach is finding favor elsewhere. Al Qaeda central's media arm As Sahab recently released a video titled "You are Only Responsible for Yourself," encouraging followers to carry out acts of individual terrorism in the West - by buying weapons at gunshows in America for example, where background checks are not carried out. In it, American al Qaeda propagandist Adam Gadahn said: "It's simply a matter of taking precautions, working in total secrecy, and making use of all means to do damage to the enemy."

Gun attacks by terrorists are one of the scenarios that are now causing most concern to Western-counter-terrorism officials because of the relative ease with which such weapons can be acquired. Their potential lethality was demonstrated by alleged Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik in his shooting rampage outside Oslo in July, an attack that has drawn comment on jihadist forums.

Counter-terrorism sources in Europe and the United States tell CNN that their greatest concern is the vulnerability of soft targets such as hotels and shopping malls to gun attacks and hostage-taking. The Mumbai attack in November 2008 captivated global media attention for three days, as a small group of Lashkar-e-Taiyyiba terrorists held off Indian security forces in two of the city's luxury hotels. A total of 164 people were killed.

Senior al Qaeda figures have publicly called for the Mumbai model to be exported.

The New Global Al Qaeda Network

If al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula seems the most potent affiliate today, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) may not be far behind it. It has established a presence in areas of Mali, Mauretania and Niger where government is weak - and has made millions of dollars through kidnapping westerners and working with drug smugglers. It could take advantage of chaos in Libya to obtain sophisticated weaponry including surface to air missiles. So far relatively few of its fighters appear to have entered Libya but that could change. Libya's National Transitional Council has also been grappling with the increasing assertiveness of Salafi Islamists in the east of the country, some of whom they fear are sympathetic to al Qaeda, according to a former Libyan jihadist.

AQIM may also forge links with other jihadist-terrorist groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria which has claimed responsibility for killing dozens in a suicide car bombing of a U.N. building in Abuja last month.

"What is concerning about AQIM is that it's a group that's Africanizing and is trying to extend its zone of influence - making contact with Boko Haram in the north of Nigeria and with [Somali group] Al Shabaab, says EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove. Its reach may not yet extend to the West, but nor did that of AQAP two years ago.

Like AQIM, al Shabaab in Somalia is beset by internal rivalries and lost one of its key operatives Fazul Abdullah Mohammed in a fire-fight in Mogadishu recently. But it also has plenty of recruits from north America and Europe in its ranks. And there are signs that it is co-operating with al Qaeda in Yemen, a short distance across the Arabian Sea.

Ahmed Abdulkadir Warsame, a Somali citizen captured in April and interrogated aboard a U.S. navy ship for two months before being taken to New York to face terrorism charges, had been in direct contact with Anwar al Awlaki and had attempted to broker a weapons deal between the groups according to the indictment in his case. Warsame has pleaded not guilty.

In Iraq, the U.S. strategy to turn Sunni tribal sheikhs against al Qaeda vastly degraded the group, but under the title Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) it is still able to launch co-ordinated bombing attacks, as was illustrated by a wave of deadly bombings across the country in August. If allowed to re-establish itself, the group would try again to ignite sectarian conflict between Sunni and Shiite Iraqis, and sabotage the investment Iraq badly needs to revive its economy. In a recent paper for the New America Foundation, Brian Fishman argued that ISI "will have to look outside Iraq's borders to engage directly in al-Qaeda's global strategy of bleeding and weakening the United States."

Globally, the only unambiguously positive picture in the fight against al Qaeda terrorism is in South East Asia where groups affiliated with al Qaeda - like Jamma Islamiya - have been significantly weakened by counter-terrorism operations by security services and by a hemorrhaging in local support because of the number of Muslim civilians killed in its attacks.

Al Qaeda Central – trying to adapt

Al Qaeda central has suffered one blow after another this year. Besides the death of Osama bin Laden, drone strikes have taken out several top al Qaeda commanders in Pakistan, most recently Atiyah al Rahman, al Qaeda's chief of operations. A senior U.S. counter-terrorism official told CNN that from an operational standpoint the death of al Rahman was a more severe blow to the terrorist organization even than the death of bin Laden. Another senior figure, Younis al Mauretani, was detained by Pakistani authorities in August, and Ilyas Kashmiri, one of the most effective terrorists in the world, was reported killed in a drone strike in June.

But al Qaeda central remains the "policy-making" authority and has the allegiance of its regional affiliates. It has powerful associates who thrive on Pakistan's inability to control its border territory and its ambivalence towards the "new" Afghanistan. A grand bargain that led moderate the Taliban to join the political process and sever links with al Qaeda – – and at the same time injected new stability into Pakistan - would further shrink al Qaeda's space. But that seems a distant prospect.

And there are signs that al Qaeda is adapting to its new circumstances. It appears to have moved some of its operations to Pakistan's settled areas to escape drone strikes. Al Mauretani and two other operatives were captured in the teeming city of Quetta in south-western Pakistan. And both al Qaeda and the Pakistan Taliban have established a foothold in Karachi, Pakistan's violent metropolis on the Arabian Sea. In May an al Qaeda unit attacked and occupied a Pakistani naval station in the city.

In recent years al Qaeda has tried to 'turn' western jihadists intent on fighting in Afghanistan, training them to return to Europe and the United States to carry out attacks. Najibullah Zazi, a young Afghan living in Denver, was one such recruit. Bryant Neal Vinas from Long Island was another. And it's not just al Qaeda. Pakistani American Faisal Shahzad who tried to blow up a car bomb in New York's Times Square on May 1, 2010 was recruited and trained by the Pakistani Taliban, not al Qaeda. British authorities say hundreds of Western militants are currently training or operating in Pakistan.

Al Qaeda has also promoted new recruits who have a keen understanding of Western vulnerabilities. One of them is American but Saudi-born Adnan Shukrijumah, who is thought to have orchestrated Zazi's bomb plot against the New York subway system. And the organization appears to be using increasingly sophisticated encryption techniques in internet communications with operatives dispatched to the West.

Even so, it is now a more fragmented organization. Rami Makanesi, a militant from the German city of Hamburg who spent time in al Qaeda camps in Waziristan in 2009-2010, and was subsequently convicted of involvement in plans to attack European targets, told German interrogators that al Qaeda had split up into 30-40 subgroups. He said al Qaeda was now a "title" for a constellation of jihadist groups in the area, including militants from the Arab world, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and "even the Taliban." Vinas, the American al Qaeda recruit, convicted of helping to plot an attack on the Long Island Railroad in 2008, said cooperation was so close between al Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban, and other Pakistani militant groups that lines blurred between them.

U.S. counter-terrorism officials say it is this blurring between different jihadist groups - together with the danger posed by completely homegrown "al Qaeda inspired" terrorists - that makes the terrorist threat to the United States so complex today.

"The fact that the threat can now come at us from so many directions means that our work is more challenging than ever," a senior U.S. counter-terrorism official told CNN.

The New Al Qaeda Strategy

New al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri's strategy is to harness the energies of al Qaeda's affiliates but to exert greater direction over them, according to Noman Benotman, a former Libyan jihadist once acquainted with bin Laden, Zawahiri, and several other al Qaeda leaders.

While every al Qaeda affiliate has recognized Zawahiri as al Qaeda's new leader, counter-terrorism analysts believe it will be difficult for Zawahiri - long a polarizing figure in the jihadist movement - to exert strategic direction over them. The death of Libyan operative Al Rahman appears to have been a further blow in this regard. "Atiyah was the one affiliates knew and trusted, "a U.S. official told CNN.

According to Benotman, now a senior analyst at the Quilliam Foundation, a UK counter-terrorism think-tank, Zawahiri is determined to take advantage of political turmoil in the Arab world. "Their top priority right now is not Afghanistan or Pakistan or launching attacks against the United States, but re-organizing themselves in the Arab world," Benotman told CNN.

Benotman says he has detected a noticeable softening in Zawahiri's ultra-hardline rhetoric in recent months, and believes he may be trying to revive support for the organization in the Arab world after a backlash against it because of the barbaric violence of its Iraqi affiliate.

In the short term Benotman predicts that al Qaeda will devote significant energy to building up a capability to strike Israel from the Sinai, Gaza, and neighboring countries because of the group's ideological view that Israel props up what it views as a secular Arab political order that it seeks to topple. Launching attacks against Israel would also be a calculated attempt by the group to re-energize its support base, according to Benotman.

The Importance of the Arab Spring

Most counter-terrorism analysts agree that key to al Qaeda's fortunes will be the evolution of the Arab Spring. The dismantling of oppressive security and intelligence police in several Arab countries has given it an opportunity to re-organize and more easily transit operatives though the region.

"Some of their comrades from the Afghan days are now commanding rebel units in Libya. They see Islamist-only rebel brigades being formed there. They see what is going on in Yemen - of course they feel they have a huge opportunity," Benotman told CNN.

While the origins of the protests made al Qaeda seem irrelevant for a period, the well-organized young professionals who led those protests are vastly outnumbered by poor, conservative Muslims who - in Egypt at least - are beginning to display their political muscle. For al Qaeda the Arab revolts are a double-edged sword. Prolonged instability and a deepening economic crisis would work in its favor. But a new political model in the Arab world, where popular Islamist parties play a constitutional role, would undercut al Qaeda's appeal.

U.S. State Department Counter-terrorism Coordinator Benjamin says that should events in the Arab world lead to "durable, democratic, elected, non-autocratic governments then AQ's single-minded focus on violence as an instrument of political change will be severely, and I think irretrievably delegitimized."

But the Arab Spring is like a ladder whose rungs are far from secure, and the events of 2011 are just a couple of steps up that ladder.

The urban legend is that bin Laden's hate toward America started years ago when he had a date with a Texan woman and his thingie was so small, she laughed at him. Maybe that's all of the extremists' problems – Osama bin Little Thingies.

we are giving them (terrorists) free publicity and encouraging them. On top of that billions in aid to countries that are in fact aiding the terrorists. What are we trying to achieve? There is no ending to this war.

We have tried for 10 years to defeat a group of guys who fight with bow and arrow and still we failed. America with all teh hightech, jets etc and still cannot beat these guys. Don't you you think we should be ashamed of ourself for being such loosers. We also spent 1-3 trillion on these guys and still we cannot beat tehm at their game. The US military is really a joke. I mean these guys are basiclly fighting with nothing against an army which has every imaginable high tech gaged.

Dude...such BS. Ashamed? I think it is amazing how our US soldiers still kick the crap out of them, even with both hands tied behind their backs with Geneva Convention and rules of humanity. If we were to let that dog off the leash, those Islamic terrorists would have been wiped off the face of the earth 10 years ago. We just don't want to look like the school yard bully to the rest of the world. That's a fact....punk.

September 12, 2011 at 5:56 pm |

matt

Free publicity? Not on CNN. Terrorists groups don't use mass media to recruit. Their target audience isn't being won over by CNN. Try looking for extremist blogs and magazines. If we turn a blind eye, that doesn't make them go away. They grew and developed to their peak well before they became a house hold name.

Message to susnasi
Thats a terrible thing to say about americans we gave you the freedom to write hatefull speeches, we gave you freedom just point blank i hope you can sleep at nights and our troops dont haunt you in your dreams

September 12, 2011 at 6:54 pm |

Kyle

Thank you Ahamad Baghaffar. People like you give me hope that peace can be found without war. It gives me hope that there are more non-radicals in the world than me. There is an old saying that goes that there is only one sin: ignorance, and let us pray that that sin can be destroyed so that peace can finally exist. God(or Allah) keep you safe.

The concept of "world peace" makes the assumption that all peoples are civilized and want the same. Naive assumption. The Islam Extremists want us dead. Period. There is no negotiating with these rabid dogs. All you can do is put them down. So, until the world is rid of the rabid dogs, there will be no world peace.

Hopefully it will bring these men waking up to the 21st Century and starting their degree with University of Phoenix. Despite current Tea Party rhetoric it truly is an enlightened world we live in. Join us.

Canadian >>>sounds like you"re looking for a reaction judging from some of your idiotic comments. Please refrain from using such a handle as the vast majority of us Canadians appreciate what our American Brothers and Sisters have done and continue to do. We will continue to fight along side the US for however long it takes. United We Stand, Divided we Fall...oh....and leave the Crack alone.and try and get your GED....Peace

Amen to that! I'm thinking that "Canadian" is just some low-life idiot trying to get Canadians and Americans to fight amongst ourselves. It's a common tactic among extremists, so I'm thinking he's just using the "Canadian" handle while sitting in his rathole. Let's not even bother with that piece of trash.

It is impossible to win the War on Bad Guys which is what the War on Terror really is. It cannot be won because there is no one with the authority to surrender. This is a war until our nation collapses from war.

As long as Pakistan's army and ISI and/or like minded state sponsored organizations operate there will be Al Qaeda or with different named innocent children, women and men killers will carry out their operations.

If only al Qaeda would dedicate themselves to something more constructive... like inventing a dessert topping with the rich taste people love but with less than 5 calories per serving, may Allah be praised.

Who are you talking about, and how is he like Steve Jobs? Please elaborate. And all CNN is doing is running a well written article explaining the changing situation that Al Qaeda finds itself in. It does a good job of explaining the hard facts, what's really important to the inner workings of the organization, where they are now, and what we should actually be worried about, and what is just bunk.

KEEP ON FUCKEN THE PUSSY OR THE DICK UNTIL ONESELF CAN NOT EVEN WALKING THAN ONESELF WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THE GREAT CHANCE TO SAW THIS WORLD WILL BE AT PEACE OF MIND AND HAVE A GREAT HARMONY FUCKEN 69 POSITION LIFESTYLE ON ONESELF DICK OR THE VAGINA , AMEN .

american army or the ones that are in the US army ,the are the must and the bigest terruriest and killer in the word. people please thank about and read about Amarican passed history.Amaricanes been killing millions of black people killing millions of the vitnames,killing of Iraqs killing of millions of others even poor afghanies now who is the real murderrers offcors Amaricans the bigest mother fuckers.. if Muslims really killers why the are not fighting other nonmuslim countres like canada ,every countres has peace and happyness exept USA why caz the were trying to remove muslims but the will remove nothing but them self. afghanistan cleaned the USSR *(RUSSIAN) in the 1980,s

not americans... american imperialist policies and government are the hidden hand behind the dagger that is the american people, being manipulated, as are these blasphemous heretics the hand behind the dagger of these "jihadists"...

I usually do not reply to such comments, and I assure u I won't reply to any more of your comments, just this once to ask of you, for any other comment you read or have any objection towards... use a more pleasant demeanor and it will take you much further. Basically treat people the way you want to be treated. Although you don't give a rat's as$, i forgive you, so take my example... I used to be like you, then I learned to be the change you want to see. I truly hope that you will see past my seemingly self-righteous comment, and connect with the message I am pleasantly conveying to you

September 12, 2011 at 4:17 pm |

canada

who?

September 12, 2011 at 4:21 pm |

ahmad baghaffar

chris, the guy lashed at me cause I didn't make a roper sentence, he focused on the wrong point, my message is what's important, not the way I wrote it... lol, I'm pretty sure my english is superior to his anyways but its an internet blog for gods sake... these people genuinely gimme a bitter sweet feeling, i pity them but can't help but find it funny in a way 😛

September 12, 2011 at 4:25 pm |

Big Bob

Islams bloody borders!

Muslims killing in Sudan
Thailand
The Phillipines
India

Of the 22 conflicts currently being fought around the world, 21 of them involve Islam.
I know, I know: "It's cute when we do it" Right, Canada?
I know you folks don't get out much, but take a good long look in the mirror!

You're a complete asshole, aren't you?? The US is a pus-filled blister on the pecker of the world....who the fuck are you to talk, jerkoff??

September 12, 2011 at 6:35 pm |

JE

Answer to some ot the ignorant statements and questions.

1st - "american army or the ones that are in the US army ,the are the must and the bigest terruriest and killer in the word. people please thank about and read about Amarican passed history"
ANSWER: If it wasnt' for the US Army, you would be speaking German..

2nd– "Amaricanes been killing millions of black people killing millions of the vitnames,killing of Iraqs killing of millions of others even poor afghanies now who is the real murderrers offcors Amaricans the bigest mother fuckers..
Answer– Millions... really!!??

3rd - " if Muslims really killers why the are not fighting other nonmuslim countres like canada"
Answer.. Canada... Where is that? IS that even a country? If so, what do they provide the world with? ...

4th - "every countres has peace and happyness exept USA why caz the were trying to remove muslims but the will remove nothing but them self. afghanistan cleaned the USSR *(RUSSIAN) in the 1980,s"

Answer– What are you talking about? This group of words makes no sense. If you are talking about the war between Afganistan and Russia, then please read your history books, and learn that they would have not have won, if it wasn't the US.

People like you make me sick. You post these stupid comments with even having the facts. Do some research then post your comments.

"Canada", you and "Ahmad" are pretty funny. The reality is that if you and your ilk had weaponry similar to the U.S., you'd have virtually no ability for self-control and would have murdered hundreds of thousands of innocents. The additional reality is that there is a Darwinian aspect to cultures on this planet; those that are barbaric and primitive tend to remain that way as a consequence. The single greatest impediment that arab countries have is Islam; as a religion and in practice Islam has done more to hold the Arab world in the 15th century while the rest of the world has progressed. Don't believe me? Read the report that was just released by Arab researchers...it says almost that exact thing. Arab society has contributed virtually nothing of note to the world in the last several hundred years except violence, barbarism and suffering. The ONLY reason the rest of the world hasn't put a wall around you and told you we'd shoot your eye out if you peeked over it is because of oil. Guess what happens when we don't need your oil as much any more, or you get to be TOO much of a pain in the butt for the rest of us (which is going to be happening soon)????

You're not worth a debate, YET.... but this: I pity you. Sincere word of advice, learn more about Islam and its TRUE virtues FOR YOURSELF, not the false "virtues" that have been spoon fed to you, and DEFINITELY NOT the heresy of Al-Qaeda or the extremist blaspheme you've been showered in from any other "Islamist" (unfathomably anti-Islam) outfit, then I would gladly debate with you. These are my sincere sentiments. Secondly, educate yourself on Darwanian theory and "arab" culture (because we are not all the same, that is an ignorant presumption), you have, at very best, a very shallow understanding. Until then I wish you well, and hopefully one day you will change your mind to one of acceptance. Life is a learning journey, embark on it soon, time is precious.

September 12, 2011 at 7:02 pm |

TOMG

WHEN THERE ARE GOOD LUCK LIFE THAN THAT IS THE REAL MOTHER FUCKEN HEAVENLY PLACES ARE RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT , AMEN .

Let me tell ya something BROTHER, the Hulkster doesn't give a bullplop about what Al Qaeda is going to do for the next 10 years. That's because the POWER of HULKAMANIA will destroy the unholy terror that is Al Qaeda with my 24 inch pythons and the LEGIONS of HULKAMANICS behind me. So remember to take your vitamins, drink your milk and say those prayers to the big HULKAMANIC IN THE SKY because WHAT CHA GONNA DO BROTHER, when the POWER of HULKAMANIA runs wild on YOU!

ONLY IF THIS FUCKEN OUT OF WAX WORLD HAVE ALL THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF BALANCINGLY BREATHING OF ALL THE INHALE FRESH AIR AND ALL THE DIRTY EXHALE TOXIC AIR THAN THIS FUCKEN WORLD WILL NO LONGER HAVE ALL OUT FUCKEN WAR PERIOD , LET GET THIS FUCKING DOGGY STYLE STARTED , AMEN .

@TOMG enough of your non-sensical rant nobody cares what you are trying to point out. WE HAVE NO CLUE BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO EDUCATION. GO BACK TO SCHOOL. YOU ARE LOWERING THE I.Q. EVERYTIME YOU POST A STUPID COMMENT THAT MEANS NOTHING..

Dano. You have a problem with people that are sick of the government spending the US in to bankruptcy? I work hard for my money. If I want to give my money away then let me do it. I dont need a commi prez doing it for me. Let the prez spend all your money as far as Im concerned, But Im big enought to handel my own money. Sezzz, some people are just too dumb to live.

to all who take these people as the face of islam, do not, they are the face of FEAR and IGNORANCE and are BLASPHEMOUS HERETICS who KILL INNOCENTS (RIP to all who have died, on all sides of the conflict, american/afghan/iraqi/etc etc etc)... to educate yourself on how religion was used as a catalyst to incite rebellion, educate yourself on Ron Paul's message of occupation and blowback... then maybe you will begin to understand how situations unfold... I pity all of you who insult islam, judaism, and any faith... plus, do not mistaken Israel for a jewish state, it is a zionist state, for more information as well visit http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com and educate yourself further before you succumb to the same ignorant rants but from the opposite end of the spectrum... i pity you all and pray for you all, because first and foremost we are human beings, and coexistance and understanding should be the narrative, AND ONLY then can we silence these heretics who claim to be "Jihadists" who sin in the name of god, all the more sinful.

ps. i am a muslim, just goes to show you that these are the enemies of man, as i condemn their actions as stalwartly as any of you, and please do not be insulted if the "YOU" who is reading agrees with me, but the comments i read are truly disturbing, and are just cogs in this clockwork perpetuating hatred and polluting the mind of man with misguided preconceptions... emotions are a terrible thing when clouding judgment and reasoning.

Al Qaeda needs to quit trying to prove a point. US has crippled you and taken out your #'s 1 and 2, plus your monetary locomotion has been severely hampered. Just understand that you cannot win. In contrast, US has to pull out of Afghanistan, I mean all that money? Think about $2 billion a month in war sunk costs and imagine what that will do for schools and health care? We need caring leaders.

KARMA ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ONESELF EYES FACES ON EVERY GIVEN MORNING TIME AND AFTERNOON TIME AND INTO THE EVENING TIME FROM ONESELF MIND GAME , MIND OVER ALL THE FUCKEN MATTER , HUMAN LIFE ARE FULL OF SHIT AND HUMAN WASTE AND URINE NOW DAILY , AMEN .

Yes, gun attacks WOULD be easy considering they let every Tom, Dick, Harry, Eduardo, Chang, and Mohammad in this country...all the extremists can just go buy a gun and have a national Kill an American Day. Perhaps this is already organized, and they are just waiting to carry it out.

There is a limit to how far one should go with gun control. Keeping up with where guns go to and from is important so as to keep track of who sells and purchases a gun, so as to prevent them from falling in the hands who'd commit acts of violence with them, but I'm assuming from your statement you'd prefer strict regulation almost to the point that no one can buy a gun. And your wrong. Not everyone can buy a gun in the US: criminals can't. But repeatedly criminals come into possession of a gun, why is that? It's because anyone who has the right connections and has money can buy a gun, legally or illegally. So enforcing strict gun laws that would prevent law abiding citizens from having the ability to purchase a firearm for self-defense is not only ridiculous, but it's against our constitution. Lastly, anything can be used as a deadly weapon. Take for example knives, bows, etc. Are you going to make those illegal too? A gun is loud, but knives and bows are silent and are just as deadly. Guns don't kill people, people kill people, and if I'm wrong, then you might as well say that knives, bows, cars, fists, crowbars, poison, etc kills people too. Inanimate objects that possess no actual life can not injure or kill people, unless that object is acted upon by a foreign force. For example: Tom pulling the trigger of a loaded gun, whether on accident or purpose, at Bob. In pulling that trigger Tom injured/killed Bob, that's why people who do commit acts such as these are investigated and given trial if found guilty of attempted murder (or w/e the charge may be), not the gun. Because obviously if people don't kill people, but guns do, anyone who's been arrested and put in prison for such an act should be acquitted. Now would that make feel safer? If it's anyone who needs regulation, it's us, not neutral, inanimate objects.

Um, no...I am all for owning guns and having the right to. My husband and I own 2 guns...an AK47 and a sig. I was referring to the fact that the article states the worry is about a "gun attack" from terrorists...as in terrorists getting guns (since they are so easily bought here) and going on random shooting rampages. THAT is my concern. I do think people should be checked better before getting guns, but my main point is that terrorists going on shooting rampages here would be so easy to do BECAUSE we let anyone and everyone into this country, so any terrorist who wants to come here either legally through passport and flight or crossing a border could do so, buy some guns, and go on their rampage.

September 12, 2011 at 4:58 pm |

Chris

Ahhhhh, mk. I assumed incorrectly, my apologies. 🙂 And I agree, somewhat. I find it hard to believe that our country lets JUST ANYONE in. The only way an actual terrorist or any criminal could get into our country would either be through fake documents (which is bit of a stretch), through human trafficking, or somehow sneaking across the border. So unless the "terrorist" has made himself known (as in has committed an act of terrorism), they're completely and impossibly untraceable. The only possible way I can see anyone who may be a potential terrorist or criminal not being able to buy a gun is if our country made it law that only US citizens can buy guns within the US, and/or they had each individual who tries to buy gun take a behavioral/psychology/moral stance test. That way anyone who puts "I'm buying a gun because I want to kill" is immediately black listed and can't buy a gun for a period of time, or something along those lines. And about the gun thing, that's great! My family and I own 4: a ruger .22 pistol, Beretta 92FS, 9mm Springfield XD, and an AR-15.

September 12, 2011 at 7:13 pm |

Bob

Sigh. Sorry Lauren, but that's not what happens, and people DO have to go through background checks at gun shows. Sheesh...if just once...just a SINGLE time some of you anti-gun zealots would actually KNOW something about guns, and/or have owned one or shoot one or something, I'd be impressed. A gun is a tool, like a car, like an axe, etc. and it can be used correctly and legally or illegally. Just because you're scared of them doesn't mean that we have to be negatively impacted by YOUR limitations.

Lauren, my apologies...I misread your post and was in too much of a hurry to make a response...my bad. I'm probably a bit less worried about a terrorist going on a rampage than you, but bottom line is that it could happen and all we can do is be vigilant. I'm also a proponent of background checks on guns (and YES I'm also an NRA member)...it should be at least as hard to get a gun as a driver's license, but we absolutely should have the right to own arms.

Again, my apologies on misreading your post and responding as I did.

September 12, 2011 at 5:14 pm |

Lauren B

No prob, Bob 😉

September 12, 2011 at 5:25 pm |

TOMG

JUST A BLINK OF AN EYE AND THERE GOES ANOTHER HUNDRED YEARS ALREADY PASSING BY , AND ALL THE MOTHER FUCKEN DOG WORLD NEVER GONNA LEARNING ANY MOTHER FUCKEN LESSON YET THAN JUST NUKE ALL OF THIS DOG WORLD AND WILL SAW WHAT HAPPEN TO ALL THE VAGINA WORLD WILL RULE THIS FUCKEN WORLD THAN , AMEN .

Well, we know America will remain safe throughout 2016 under the Obama/Biden leadership and our trust and credibility around the world will continue to grow. That was evident when we seek unilateral support from the world community to intervene in Libya. However, what happens after 2016 is anybody's guess especially if the republicans were to get into the White House with more failed and misguided policies and more failed and misguided leadership.

You know there's something about wealthy politicians when they seek office. The reality is they don't seek office to improve the state of American lives but rather they seek office because they see it as a sort of sport or entaintment for their boredom. Ask Dick Cheyney. Cheyney said he has no regrets whatsoever. No regrets although our troops are still dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. But again, it's up to the American people.

Sigh. Hate to break it to you, buddy, but Obama and Biden are a single term item. I know you're telling yourself that's not the case, but it is. I think the vast majority of people (except for the Obamabots) realize that Obama isn't effective as a Presidential leader...it's that simple. I'm not discounting the fact that the situation is complex...far from it. What I (and others) are saying is that Obama simply isn't up to the challenge. We need someone stronger. Or are you thinking you REALLY want another four years of this???

I have to respect you for trying to learn English. Maybe one day in the distant future you will get the language, but honey, right now you are writing on a 2nd grade level at best with a pitiful attempt at 8th grade humor.

THIS FUCKEN WORLD ARE GETTING OUT OF WAX , LIKE A HELL WAY OF THINKING AND LIVING IN THE DAILY BASIC , KARMA ARE COMING TO RESCUE ONESELF DOG TO EITHER GO HIGH TO THE HEAVENLY PLACE OR GOING DOWN TO THE HELL PLACE , AND THAN GET TOBE REINCARNATION BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN AND BORN BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN TO HAVE A GREAT CHANCES TO GIVEN OUT THE HUMAN WASTE AND THE HUMAN URINE IN THE DAILY BASIC ARE FULL OF SHIT HUMAN WASTE AND URINE SMELL ON THE DAILY , WHO CARE , AMEN .

The fundamentalist movement of Islam that spawned Al Qaeda and others, are fully committed to the destruction of all people who do not adhere to the twisted interpretation of their faith. At their core, they know their brand of faith is false and that's why they are so oppressive, violent and murderous in the enforcement of their religious laws and are committed to killing all people that do not or will not believe as they do. They threaten with death anyone who even speaks out against any aspect of their religion out of fear it's facade will fall.

Look at what the Taliban have done in Afghanistan and in the tribal regions of Pakistan to their own and what Iranians do to their own people. It all follows the same lines of the most oppressive and murderous regimes throughout the world. They do these atrocities in the name of Allah and think they are going to get a pass when their time of judgement comes. They think they have divine authority to exact judgment and punishment on those of other faiths and more often those of their own faith who interpret the word of God differently than they do.

When a belief system has merit and validity, it's embraced and survives through truth. When a belief system is false, it has to be enforced though terror and fear. As long as the violent minority of Islamic fundamentalists are allowed to exist by the millions of Islamic people who believe in love and tolerance, terrorism will continue to plague the world until the people behind it are wiped clean from the face of the earth.

lol, logic don't argue with them, it's truly pointless, lead a narrative cause if you ask these questions they'll find a way to answer and only agonize you further with ignorant comments. Ps: i agree completely, don't blame the faith, blame the people, cause I am muslim but unfortunately the news only takes interest in these crackpot "muslims" and not the real ones who live in peace, cause lets face it we're boring as hell 😛

September 12, 2011 at 4:33 pm |

newsreel

Your observations are very true, and you express them very well. Agreed completely. Unfortunately, if you look at the map where Islam is based, we can see that the majority of the followers are poor, uneducated, living mostly in middle east, africa, and SE asia. They are thus easily manipulated by the violent minority.

Very well said. Bad trees will only bring out rotten fruit. Al-Qaeda's ideology is completely bankrupt, and it will eventually collapse. Muslims themselves will decide that the world Al-Qaeda wants to create for them is far worse than the world the West and democritization offer. It may take some time, but it will happen.

arab countries have not contributed a thing to society in hundreds of years. the land of pharoahs and queens that created pyramids off of jewish slave labor has become impotent and powerless through their own laziness and lack of advancement with the rest of the world. when non western arabs decide to stop scapegoating jews and actually get off their lazy, ignorant, superstitous as$es, maybe then you'll see the culture flourish. until then, you people are bitter, violent, angry, and repressed all the while blaming some imaginary group of jewish elite who hold them back. you made your beds now lay in them.

THE GOVERNMENT WANTS US DISCUSSING MUSLIMS AND AL QAEDA FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. IT IS A MEDIA PSY OP'S CAMPAIGN FULL OF MANIPULATION AND CONTROL TACTICS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS 9/11 WAS NOT A SOPHISTICATED HIGH TECH ATTACK PERPETRATED BY A "TERRORIST MASTERMIND" THEY LEARNED TO FLY AND THEY FLEW PLANES INTO BUILDINGS. GUESS WHAT? THEY CAN TEACH CHIMPANZEES TO DO THAT. NOW YOU HAVE REINFORCED COKPIT DOORS, AND AIR MARSHALS ON PLANES BUT THEY STILL INSIST ON MOLESTING YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AT THE AIRPORT. TRY THINKING LOGICALLY FOR A CHANGE, IF THESE HIGH TECH NINJA JIHADISTS WERE CAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING ELSE DON'T YOU THINK THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IT BY NOW? THEY ARE SPAMMING THE COMMENTS BOARD BECAUSE THE TRUTH TERRIFIES THEM.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Erase Mecca and Medea off the map and Islam ends. All the moslems will turn to their Jewish cousins (who are mostly agnostic) and say "looks like you were right after all".

ALL ALL THE HUMAN FORM STOP FUCKEN EATTING ALL KIND OF FUCKEN ANIMAL MEAT THAN THIS WORLD WILL BE STOP ALL THE WAR WAR WAR IN THIS LAST GENERATION OF HUMAN RACE , AMEN . THIS IS THE REALITY OF THE HELL ERA TIMING NOW . WHERE IS THE HEAVENLY PLACE IS ONLY IN THE LAND OF THE FREE GOD BLESS AMERICAN LAND OF THE FREE , AMEN .

Just an observation but why are all Al-Qaeda leaders ugly? I mean, if any of them looked like Omar Sharif they'd at least have some kind of esthetic credibility. But these pencil necks dweebs with their huge noses and beady eyes? It's ain't doing it for me.

Americans need to learn they are not super power anymore ... be like canadians no debt , no enemies , great health care , country actually worry about the citizens .. come join us live ur life happy ever after 🙂

THE GOVERNMENT WANTS US DISCUSSING MUSLIMS AND AL QAEDA FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. IT IS A MEDIA PSY OP'S CAMPAIGN FULL OF MANIPULATION AND CONTROL TACTICS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS 9/11 WAS NOT A SOPHISTICATED HIGH TECH ATTACK PERPETRATED BY A "TERRORIST MASTERMIND" THEY LEARNED TO FLY AND THEY FLEW PLANES INTO BUILDINGS. GUESS WHAT? THEY CAN TEACH CHIMPANZEES TO DO THAT. NOW YOU HAVE REINFORCED COKPIT DOORS, AND AIR MARSHALS ON PLANES BUT THEY STILL INSIST ON MOLESTING YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AT THE AIRPORT. TRY THINKING LOGICALLY FOR A CHANGE, IF THESE HIGH TECH NINJA JIHADISTS WERE CAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING ELSE DON'T YOU THINK THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IT BY NOW?

It is very sad that the majority of the peace loving Muslims around the worlld don't come around and forcefully proclaim that they are not part of these animals who kill in the name of Allaha. They silently support these horrible crime against humanity and keep quite.

you know i read alot of these, and i just want to know why would CNN, or any other news website put out there on open source for everyone to see that we have collected information? why would we put out on open source for anyone to read including extreamist the information we find out about al-qeada or any other group? please answer that, it seems thats kinda like RULE 1 of OPSEC?

Please bite your tongue. No American with half of a brain would ever think about becoming a Canadian, or even calling themselves one. if you hadn't noticed, any Canadian worth anything comes to America to live (you can keep Beiber though). We don't put gravy on our fries

Pamela anderson .. ur dad used to jerk off too lol i can say lots of names but ur americans so ur brians gna hurt lot ..
kid most of ur oil comes from canada .. you pple basically live of canada and chinas help .. anyways go get a job 1st ..captain america 🙂

September 12, 2011 at 3:25 pm |

Don't Call Me Canadian

Pamela Anderson? That is the name you drop to make a point about how great Canada is... A prostitute with hepatitis? Sounds like youre mad at American for being superior in just about every way...you cant even hold on to your hockey players. I know it doesnt feel good to be known as America's hat though. For God's sake, you still recognize the Queen of England.

religious organizations are all the same
they want to control they way you think, impede any advancement of science and technology and take as much money as humanly possible – its been that way since religion was invented.

If curses existed – I'd curse the man who invented religion, what a greedy little man that was....

How would you know that unless you knew the will of a god? You're point contradicts your point why don't you try again

September 12, 2011 at 3:22 pm |

insight

Man made God has all the characteristics of men. He is always jealous of fellow human beings and try to screw up things.

September 12, 2011 at 3:23 pm |

Sean

Well said.

September 12, 2011 at 4:13 pm |

Sean

I know thinking isn’t high on the list of theists Kevin. But a little logic and you have your answer. I’ll give you one god, the same god and a 1000 of ‘his’ followers. Ask them one by one and you will get 1000 different versions of what that god wants.

September 12, 2011 at 4:19 pm |

insight

Man made relegion and relegion made God. And the God sodomize, pedophile, and screws up things and then become preast or a pople, or clergy, and when chance is given kill people around them. How can we get rid of this a$$ hole.

USA who what?? same usa who coundt save there own citizens 🙂
candians dont need states .. ever heard of asutralia or 100 of other countries not beside living states never had or will have terrorist attack .. so shove ur lil usa penis up ur big arss sir 🙂

I would rather live in a country that is in danger of terrorist attacks than live in a country thats known to be full of a bunch of p*ssy's! F*CK CANADA! You people are only safe because of your neighbors to the south. YOURE WELCOME!

September 12, 2011 at 3:57 pm |

JP

Being that I am Canadian, you are an idiot!

September 12, 2011 at 4:09 pm |

JP

@Canadian: You are an idiot my friend. Please stop speaking for the rest of us with that handle!

The al-Qaeda philosophy of terrorism to effect change has been proven to be totally ineffective.

The Arab Spring protests produced far more change than anything al-Qaeda has managed to achieve in the past 20 years.

Arab youth don't want terrorism. They want freedom and democracy. They don't want to destroy the "west". They want to enjoy more things that the "west" enjoys. They want to be included. And the "west" now also wants them to be included. And that is why the "west" is trying to help the Arab people get rid of all these brutal dictators. The "west" never liked dealing with these dictators. But there was no other alternative. Now, together, we can give the Middle East peoples a better alternative.

It is ok to kill one person to save thousands is an accepted idea. I am not for killing any human beings but the evil pictured here must be put sleep. The sooner the better. Hope USA will fullfill that today or tomorrow. These ugly beasts hiding under the beard are a cancer for the humanity.

Hope no more attack anywhere in world be america , europe, middle east or south asia .. we need to live in peace ..
look what happen to states .. its almost on its knees .. so much debt ..job loss and plus most of there companies are moving to India and china

Lets not forget al Qaeda's history: They were born out of a group of mujahideen that the UNITED STATES created to fight the Soviets. The U.S. created them, funded them, and had a relationship with them for many years before they suddenly became the new "bad guys".

It doesn't matter now who created them,funded them,etc.It only matters now that they are evil,and have ill will toward all of humanity and must be lethally crushed and demoralized,physically and spiritually.

These men are hairy and disgusting. The way their society treats women and their attacks on Western cultures is disgusting. I wouldn't care if they caged in the Middle East and let the neanderthals attack each other.

since when bieng hairy means disgusting??
most of white women have hair on there body and lots musatche you just cant see cos of blong color lol
oonly diff is hores , strippers and prostitutes like you have rights here in America

MUSLIMS AND JIHADISTS ARE GETTING A LITTLE BORING AND REDUNDANT BUT WHO CARES SINCE THEY MADE THE NEWS MEDIAS JOB THAT MUCH EASIER. THEY WOULD RATHER YOU FEAR AND WATCH THE BOOGIE MAN THAT IS THIS SOPHISTICATED ISLAMIC NETWORK OF HIGH TECH NINJA JIHADISTS INSTEAD OF REPORTING ON REAL NEWS. THIS IS LIKE A B MOVIE HORROR FILM THAT NEVER ENDS BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS. OK 19 ARABS HIJACKED PLANES AND FLEW THEM INTO BUILDINGS IT WAS TERRIBLE BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT IT WAS 10 FUKN YEARS AGO! MOVE ON!!! WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT AL QAEDA AL QAEDA AL QAEDA EVERYDAY FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. 10TH ANNIVERSARY COME AND WENT AND NOTHING HAPPENED STOP FEAR MONGORING AND DO YOUR FUKN JOB INSTEAD OF PLAYING RERUNS OF TO CATH A PREDATOR, LOCK UP, CASEY ANTHONY AND AL QAEDA, AL QAEDA AL QAEDA AL QAEDA AL QAEDA AL QAEDA AL QAEDE AL QAEDA...

DENNIS HAVEN'T YOU SEEN THE LATEST DHS COMMERCIAL? YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO REPORT ME FOR USING CAPS. GO! HURRY! BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, YOU UNEDUCATED MISINFORMED TROLL.

September 12, 2011 at 4:48 pm |

Dino

KEEP DEFLECTING FROM REALITY YOU IGNORANT LITTLE TROLL. I AM EDUCATED IN 3 LANGUAGES MEANWHILE THE ONLY WORD YOU KNOW HOW TO SAY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IS "SI PAPI"

September 12, 2011 at 4:51 pm |

LizzieLoo

Learn to educate yourself before you hate everyone else, otherwise YOU look like the ignorant one.
Example A: They're not called "jihadist" – They're called "mujahideen". Jihad is the act of Holy War. Mujahid is someone "fighting for the sake of Allah." Know $hit before you talk $hit.

You people are retarded. Mujahidin means holy allah warrior, it is what they call themselves. I am not a jihad sympathizer and do not consider them holy warriors so i use the word jihadist. Noun 1. Jihadist – a Muslim who is involved in a jihad. I am sorry if that is not PC enough for you, I know you would like to continue this pointless dialogue and continue deflecting from the real substantive issues facing America today.

September 12, 2011 at 4:41 pm |

power4things

Another finger-raised camel jockey, didn't we get rid of these cave men yet? Oh, I see he has glasses 'cause the poor devil can't see. Uh, that would be an invention from the Satan West, I think, and on a television show – oh, more evil Western technology. No camels, yogurt or goats involved! How does he stand it?

Despite media-driven fever, Al Qaeda can be thought of in the same way as the KKK. The KKK was not destroyed, but rather marginalized and its members – and would be members – moved elsewhere or tempered their views. The same is true and gaining for this ancient organization.

Most Muslim clerics from the Middle East are in joy celebrating the 9/11 attack. Anyone watching and listening to their rhetoric in any Middle East TV station can tell they are in joy celebrating the 9/11 attack and praying to Allah for another attack to America. As followers of the immoral conduct and evil actions of their Prophet Mohammed we can expect the worst coming from these creatures. Islamic clerics are the main instigators of all the violence, hatred, terrorism, resentment, vengeance and discrimination around the world. Their distorted morality and lack of basic universal ethical and moral standards are the weapons of mass moral destruction.

As idiotic as your post indicates you are I am amazed that you were able to operate a computer and post a reply.

September 12, 2011 at 2:52 pm |

insight

Muslim clerics use confused people like you as weapons to kill innocent people and then they hide in the cave and have fundwith young women. And, your Allaha just watch this crap and do any damn thing about it.

September 12, 2011 at 3:04 pm |

rashid

They don't make ANYTHING. Very little is made in the Arab world, Remove the oil component from Arab GDP and you have poor countries. The West found the oil, too.

September 12, 2011 at 6:39 pm |

Canadian

INSIGHT .. This Islam what christianity used to be thousands of years ..guess they will change there mentality evantually 🙂

The Arab culture was once the most advanced civilization in the World. They were leaders in art and science. Now they are infested with power hungry men. Internal corruption and tribal warfare will continue to destroy the region long after coalition forces have packed up and returned home. If they really want to "win", they should return to what they once were by sending their children to school, treating their women properly, and taking care of their citizens. They also need to do away with their inherited hate. Seriously, they harbor hate for things that happened thousands of years ago. Meanwhile, America has mutually beneficial relationships with Great Britain, Germany and Japan.

that's what happens when a culture becomes inherently lazy and blames the jew for all of their problems. they create nothing, contribute nothing, whine and make excuses for themselves by blaming on it on some world-order that's holding them back.

I thought I just heard you crying a few minutes ago.Crying for more of the same treatment!

September 12, 2011 at 3:27 pm |

C.Cantu

Anyone watching any Middle East TV station and listening to the rhetoric of most Muslim clerics can tell that these guys are in joy celebrating the 9/11 attack, in fact some Islamic clerics are praying to Allah for another attack to America. I am quite sure these evil creatures are the source of all the violence, hatred, resentment, terrorism and discrimination around the world. Their distorted morality and lack of basic universal ethical and moral standards make them potential criminals and the main instigators of future attacks and violence. As followers and imitators of the immoral conduct of their Prophet Mohammed and his evil actions, we all can expect the worst from these Anti-Christ disciples.

You are half way there...Religion is the culprit of most of the evil in the world today. Let us not forget that Christianity is also responsible for millions of innocent lives lost in the past 1000 years. We must stop reading between the lines of what is written in these poorly interpreted books, and start treating each other as equals.

September 12, 2011 at 3:46 pm |

ahmad baghaffar

No JP, they are far off and you are 1/2 way there... i commend you on believing that we should treat each other as equals, which are virtues that are found in judaism, christianity, and islam, unfortunately it is man that spins these teachings, and creates havoc by misguiding and misinforming... blame the men and not the religion is my message to you. you would be doing a great good if you were to pass this message along as well

September 12, 2011 at 4:02 pm |

Hey

John, you are a real idiot. Read your history and you will understand better about what christians did and still do but they never try to link it to religion thats why morons kool aid people like you are fooled!

September 12, 2011 at 4:44 pm |

Bob

JP (and others), YES Christianity was brutal and violent, much like fundamentalist Islam...but the point is that Christianity had it's violent period 500 YEARS AGO! Islam as a religion is holding the Arab world back and keeping them in the Dark Ages of morality (and civilization).

September 12, 2011 at 5:18 pm |

Hey

C.Cantu: you are the most uneducated idiot i have ever read a comment to. I bet you did not leave the US one day in your life from being scared for your useless life and saw in your real stupid eyes what the middle east looks like or met the people over there. Until then don't give your idiot non sense comments to the public. You sheep Bush Wars lover!

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.